Heartbreak as Trojans collapse in final quarter, fall 24-21 to Colonial Heights

New Kent fullback Lamont Brandon (carrying ball) gets a royal escort of protection thanks to blocking from teammates Josh Dixon (64), Joe Dixon (65), and Dean Powell (76).

Andre' Jones photos

For nearly three quarters, New Kent Trojans remained poised and in control of the visiting Colonial Heights Colonials with a 21-6 lead. But a downward spiral of big plays and turnovers in the final 13 minutes of the game soured the mouths of the hosts.

Back-to-back turnovers in the fourth quarter, including one that resulted in a fumble return for a touchdown, played vital roles in Colonial Heights’ 24-21 victory over the Trojans.

The visitors’ quick-paced offense rocked New Kent back onto their heels during the opening drive of the game. But weathering the storm, the Trojans’ defense forced a stop on fourth down, gaining possession deep in their own territory. After a false start, New Kent was backed up to their own four-yard line. That’s until running back Davion Barnes touched the ball.

On his first regular season carry, Barnes followed his offensive lineman on a dive play. Emerging from between the massive bodies, he pulled away from defenders and raced 96 yards to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead.

New Kent’s defense held steadfast for a majority of the first half. Midway through the second quarter and after forcing the guests to relinquish the ball on downs, Barnes found the ball in his hand again. The senior back scampered 33 yards on a carry in front of the visitors’ sideline. The next play, he ran 23 yards in front of the home sidelines and straight into the end zone, part of his 195-yard total racked up on the ground in the first half. A Julian Thacker placement gave the hosts a 14-0 lead heading into the halftime intermission.

Colonial Heights’ first break came on its first possession of the third quarter. After starting at its own 12-yard line, Colonials’ running back Darien Canada moved the ball to midfield. Operating from the pistol formation, a snap to Colonial quarterback Jackson Cox bounced off his shoulder pad and straight into the air. Canada happened to be in the right position, hauling in the ball and finding a hole between Trojan defenders before racing 55 yards to put points on the scoreboard (14-6).

The visitors looked to be gaining momentum as Trojan quarterback Mike Burt was intercepted by David Taft. But the hosts’ intensity on defense led to a big special teams play. The frame of 6’5” senior defensive lineman Josh Dixon blocked the punt of Chris Markins, with the ball ricocheting all the way down to the visitors’ seven-yard line before Trojan C.J. Reeder recovered. Four plays later, Burt made amends for his turnover, connecting with R.J. Morris on a 11-yard strike down the center of the field to give the Trojans a 21-6 lead with 1:27 remaining in quarter three.

But the unraveling process commenced on the next kickoff. Upback Ahsain McKenzie would field a short kickoff and return it 41 yards to the Trojans’ 20-yard line. Two plays later, Canada would muscle his way for six points to slice the hosts’ lead to nine (21-12) as teams exchanged sides of the field.

As New Kent operated on offense near midfield, Burt stepped back for a pass attempt. However, a blindside hit by Jared Morgan jarred the ball from his hand. Ramon Ares, the Colonials’ 290-pound lineman, scooped up the ball and was able to withstand a late rundown from Trojan pursuers, entering the end zone to narrow the margin to 21-18.

On the ensuing kickoff, Reeder, now returning for the Trojans, was stripped on the return and could only watch as Joe Robinson of the visitors pounced on the loose pigskin. Colonial Heights’ offense reignited and took advantage of the Trojan miscue. Canada would accumulate 23 yards on the ground, including the final 13 on an option play that found him in the end zone for the third time on the night, giving Colonial Heights their first lead of the game (24-21) with 5:34 remaining.

New Kent picked up the pace, moving the ball to midfield in a mixture of pass and run plays. But the visitors keyed on Barnes, shutting him down on three consecutive plays before deflecting a Burt pass to force a turnover on downs. Canada would run for two first downs, sealing the game and having the clock expire to conclude the visitors’ comeback.

Trojan head coach Clark Harrell pointed to the untimely miscues that eventually thwarted the hosts from entering the win column.

“The story of this game was those three fumbles,” said Harrell. “Our first fumble was when we were about to score, and the back-to-back fumbles in the fourth swung momentum. That really was the key to the game.

“We played hard and we played well defensively tonight,” he continued. “I thought if we would have scored on the drive deep in their territory it would have been a backbreaker to them.”

Harrell said that while the mentality of the team has changed, it will take more improvement to have a successful season.

“When a program is down as long as this one has been, you have to learn how to win,” continued the head coach. “We’ve got to manage the game better and just can’t turn the ball over.

“Four turnovers in a three-point game is big,” he added. “We rushed for nearly 300 yards tonight and when a team does that you’d expect them to win.”

Leading the rushing attack for the Trojans was Barnes, who accumulated 250 yards on the ground.

“We moved the ball well tonight but now we will focus on what we need to do to take care of York,” Harrell concluded.

New Kent (0-1) hosts York next Friday night.

1st Quarter
NK (7:50)- Barnes 96 yard run (Thacker kick) 7-0
2nd Quarter
NK (7:07)- Barnes 23 yard run (Thacker kick) 14-0
3rd Quarter
CH (7:36)- Canada 55 yard run (run fail) 14-6
NK (1:27)- Morris 11 yard pass from Burt (Thacker kick) 21-6
CH (0:59)- Canada 5 yard run (run fail) 21-12
4th Quarter
CH (9:19)- Ares 50 yard fumble return (kick fail) 21-18
CH (5:34)- Canada 13 yard run (pass fail) 24-21

Passing (completions/attempts/yards)
CH- Cox 9/18/88, 1 INT.
NK- Burt 4/6/35, 1 TD, 1 INT.

Rushing (attempts/yards)
CH- Canada 25/235, 3 TD; Bride 2/13, Wood-Allen 1/10, Rogers 2/-3, Cox 5/-29.
NK- Barnes 24/250, 2 TD; Morris 3/18, Brandon 6/16, St. Clair 2/6, Branch 1/-5, Curle 1/-5, Burt 6/-9.

Receiving (receptions/yards)
CH- Morgan 5/33, Taft 1/21, Canada 1/15, Bride 1/15, Faison 1/4.
NK- Morris 2/21, 1 TD; Gammon 1/17, Barnes 1/-3.

New Kent defensive end Nick Carreon (35) gets around the block of Colonials’ lineman Ramon Ares (75) to apply pressure on quarterback Jackson Cox.